thistly

as in prickly
having leaves or branches which are likely to cause a scratch caught her sleeve on a thistly bush

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for thistly
Adjective
  • The book’s art director, Rita Marshall, had long admired Mr. Holland’s work, but she was put off by his famously prickly persona.
    Penelope Green, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025
  • Comments The handsome, prickly, and soulful Val Kilmer died from pneumonia on Tuesday after an 11-year struggle with throat cancer.
    Randall Colburn, EW.com, 2 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Boulders offer a jagged look For a rugged look, consider a retaining wall made from large boulders.
    Katherine McLaughlin, Architectural Digest, 18 Apr. 2025
  • All those letters are real, and all those jagged lines were the work of scissors.
    Brian Truitt, USA Today, 11 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Join Our Other Game Discussions Want to be part of the conversation about New York Times Games, or maybe get some help with a particularly thorny puzzle?
    Sam Corbin, New York Times, 22 Apr. 2025
  • Despite a recent pause on some tariffs, Apple remains in a particularly thorny spot as Donald Trump's trade war spikes costs in the tech company's iPhone manufacturing hub, China.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 11 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • It’s made from a soft alpaca wool blend, which adds tons of warmth without feeling hot or scratchy.
    Anne Taylor, Travel + Leisure, 16 Apr. 2025
  • Allergic reactions can include a scratchy throat, watery eyes, itchy skin, runny nose, and sneezing.
    Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 7 Apr. 2025
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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“Thistly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/thistly. Accessed 25 Apr. 2025.

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